According to Ireland’s state news broadcaster, the incident happened at around 1.30pm. It is said that the driver of the lorry later got out of the vehicle and began distributing photos, which allegedly contained images of the victims of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
A video tweeted by RTE News this afternoon shows how an onlooker cheers at the exact moment the lorry reversed through the Russian Embassy’s gates.
A large truck has crashed through the gates of the Russian embassy in south Dublin. One man has been arrested. pic.twitter.com/35yLDfGhEd
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 7, 2022
The video also shows that the vehicle belongs to Desmond Wisley Ecclesiastical Supplies, who supply products for use in churches, including Celtic Cross hand sanitiser and candlesticks of various sizes. The fact wasn’t lost on Twitter users, who have flooded the reply section to RTE’s video with various Father Ted references and memes.
Desmond Wisley, who runs the company, has tweeted content about the invasion on his Twitter profile, and hence may have been involved in the stunt.
The police have stated they are now investigating an incident of criminal damage. The driver has also has been detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Photo: Google Street View